Drug induced deaths at highest rate since late 90s

Drug induced deaths at highest rate since late 90s

Australia recorded the highest number of drug-induced deaths since the late 1990s, with the death rate steadily increasing over a decade and now at 7.5 deaths per 100,000 Australians – data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows.

“There were 1,808 drug induced deaths in 2016, with those deaths most commonly associated with Benzodiazepines and Oxycodone,” James Eynstone-Hinkins, Director of Health and Vital Statistics at the ABS said. “These are both prescription drugs which are used to manage anxiety and pain respectively.”